Automatic feeder.



THOMAS M. PLATE, 0]? PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31, 1911.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Serial No. 618,064.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. PLATT, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Feeders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic means for feeding live stock,particularly poultry.

My invention resides in apparatus of the character above referred to, inwhich a hopper, having one or more compartments, contains the grain orother feed which falls by gravity to the lower end of the hopper. Thefree exit of the feed is impeded or controlled by an oscillating member,which may be termed a valve, having a seat at or near the lower end ofthe hopper and adapted to be oscillated by the live stock attempting tosecure feed or bait in tempters which are connected with the oscillatingvalve by a rod.

My invention resides in the features of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the forms my invention may take, referenceis to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, parts in section, through myimproved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan View, partly insection, taken on the lme A-A, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentarysectional view, on enlarged scale, through the bottom of the hopper andassociated parts. Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view taken on theline B--B, of Fig. 3, showing the diaphragms and feeding slots. Fig. 5is a fragmentary view, in plan, showing an ear for preventing theoscillating valve and associated parts from revolving.

The hopper 1, here shown, by way of example, as cylindrical, ispreferably made of sheet metal and is provided with removable eyes 2 bywhich it may be suspended from any suitable support by chains or otherdevices 3. The hopper 1 is provided with a cover 4. having a handle 5for ready access to the top of the hopper. Within the hopper areprovided, if desired, a plurality of partitions 6 to divide the sameinto a plurality of compartments, for containing the same variety ordifferent varieties of feed or other material, as grit, ground shells,or whatever may be desired.

The lower end of the hopper 1 diminishes in diameter, as indicated bythe cone 7 the shaped, the bottom of the trough being in-' dicated at 9in Fig. 4. At the outer edge of each diaphragm 8 is a small opening 10.

Beneath the diaphragms 8 and resting within the lower end of the cone 7is the oscillating valve member 11, here shown substantially sphericallyshaped and disposed immediately above the member 11 are the members 12,curved in more or less conformity to the member 11, to form an invertedseat for the same to prevent the same from rising up out of contact withthe lower end of the cone 7. In the member 11 are a plurality of slotsor passages 13, one for each opening 10 and in substantial alinementtherewith. These slots are of such depth in the member 11, that when themember 11 is oscillated, as hereafter described, the slot will come intocommunication with the feed discharge opening 14 in the lower end of thecone 7. Secured to the member 11 is the depending pendulum rod 15 towhose lower end are secured the tempters 16, here shown as four innumber, supported upon the rods 17 held by the lock 18, which latter issecured to the rod 15. Each tempter is here shown as consisting of asubstantially cylindrical portion 16 within which may be confined by acap 18 suitable tempting feed or other material visible but inaccessibleto poultry or other stock through the wire netting 19 which occupiessubstantially a quadrant, being preferably the upper and outsidequadrant of each tempter. The tempter may be a complete ring instead ofseveral short units as shown. Between this member 11 and the temptersthere is secured upon the rod 15 the deflector 20, here shown conical inshape, the same being secured upon the rod 15 by the screw 21, by whichit is adjustable to different heights along the rod 15. Upon thedeflector 20 is secured a pin or rod 22 adapted to extend into the space23, see Fig. 5, between the prongs 24 of a member 25 secured on theouter side of the cone 7 as shown in Fig. 1. By this means the ballmember 11 and attached parts, are prevented from rotating, as around thevertical aXis of the member 11, thus keeping slots 13 in alinement withtheir respective openings 10.

Upon the cone 7 may be provided a plurality of brackets 26 upon whichmay rest the annular water tank or reservoir 27 which may have theupwardly diminishing portion 28. 29 is an opening into the tank 27 foradmission of water, this opening being closed air-tight by a cap 30.Communicating with the inside of the tank 27 through its bottom anddepending therefrom is the downwardly extending tube 31 which may belaterally braced by the member 32 secured upon the cone 7. Upon thelower end of the tube 31 is supported the tank 33 within which isdisposed the float 34 loosely embracing the tube 31. A bracket 35securedupon the float 34 supports the rod 36 which extends upwardly through thetube 31 and through the tank 27 and carries at its upper end a valve 37adapted to close an aperture 38 in the part 39 in communication with theinterior of the tank 27. The tank 33 has a spout 40 open to the poultryor other live stock at 41.

If instead of suspending the apparatus thus far described by chains orother devices as 3, it is desired to rest the apparatus upon the flooror ground, three or more legs 42 may be provided, secured to the cone 7or to any other suitable part of the apparatus.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: Feed or other suitablematerial is placed in the compartments in the hopper 1, the same restingupon the diaphragms 8 which sustain in part, at least, the weight of thematerial to be fed. The feed falls by gravity through the apertures 10in the diaphragms into the slots 1.3 in the valve member 11. The poultryor other live stock in attempting to secure the bait or food in thetempters 16 will oscillate the pendulum rod 15 in any direct-ion, whichrod, however, is prevented from rotating by the engagement of rod 22 inthe opening 23 as above described. This pendular or oscillating actionof the rod 15 and the attached parts, swings the valve member 11 so thatone or another of its slots 13 is brought into communication with theopening 14, whereupon the feed or other material drops through theopening 14 on to the top of the deflector 20 which scatters the feedupon the ground or floor. There being a plurality of tempters, and aplurality of slots 13 in the member 11, the member 11 will be from timeto time oscillated in all directions so that one or another of the slots13 will come into communication with the discharge outlet 14 therebycausing the various kinds of feed within the hopper to be scattered uponthe ground.

For watering, the cap 30 is removed and the tank 27 filled to a desiredlevel and the cap 30 returned and secured air-tight to prevent admissionof air. The water descends through the tube 31 into the tank 33 andrises to a suitable level in the spout 40, so that the same may be drunkby the poultry or other live stock. As the level of the Water in thetank 33 is lowered by consumption or evaporation, the float 34 descendsuntil finally the valve 37 is removed from its seat opening the aperture38 and allowing entrance of air to reduce the partial vacuum which hadbeen formed in the tank 27 by consumption of water from tank 33. Thisadmission of air then allows a flow of Water down the tube 31 into thetank 33, where upon the float 34 again rises and through the rod 36raises the valve 37 to close the aperture 38 air-tight. The level of thewater in the tank 33 is now again higher and suitable for furtherconsumption, and when the level in the tank 33 again diminishes to acertain point the aforementioned operation is automatically repeated.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper having a feeddischarge opening, a valve seat approximate said opening, asubstantially spherically shaped valve member having an aperture andhaving universal movement on said seat, a member supported by and hungfrom said valve member for oscillating said valve member, whereby saidaperture is brought into communication with said discharge opening, anda tempter device whereby said member may be actuated.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper having a pluralityof compartments and a feed discharge opening, a pendulum valve memberhaving a plurality of passages controlling communication between saiddischarge opening and said compartments, and a tempter device wherebysaid valve member may be actuated.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper having a pluralityof compartments and a feed discharge opening, a pendulum valve memberhaving a plurality of passages controlling communication between saiddischarge opening and said compartments, a tempter device whereby saidvalve member may be actuated, and a per fora-ted diaphragm interveningbetween each of said compartments and said valve member.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with ahopper having a feed discharge opening, of a feed controlling diaphragmin said hopper above said discharge opening, a valve member disposedbetween said diaphragm and said discharge opening, a pendulum roddepending from'and supported by said valve member,

and a tempter device whereby said rod may be actuated.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with ahopper having a feed discharge opening, of a pendulum valve membercontrolling said opening, a pendulum rod depending from and supported bysaid valve member, a tempter device whereby said rod may be actuated,and a deflector movable with said rod.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with ahopper having a feed discharge opening, of a pendulum valve membercontrolling said opening, a seat for said valve member, a pendulum roddepending from and supported by said valve member, a tempter devicewhereby said rod may be actuated, and means for preventing said valvemember from rising from its seat.

7 In apparatus of the character described, a feed hopper having aplurality of compartments and a feed discharge opening, a pendularlyoscillating valve member having a slot for each compartment of said feedhopper, said valve member controlling said discharge opening, and meansfor actuating said valve member, whereby a slot in said valve memberaffords communication with a compartment of said hopper and saiddischarge opening.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a feed hopper having aplurality of compartments and a feed discharge opening,

a valve member having a seat adjacent to said discharge opening, amember secured to said valve member and extending through said dischargeopening, and a tempter device for actuating said member, said valvemember having a slot for each compartment of said feed hop er, wherebywhen said member is actuated y said tempter device a slot afl'ordscommunication between a compartment of said hopper and said dischargeopening.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a feedhopper having a plurality of compartments, a troughed diaphragm at thebottom of each compartment, each diaphragm having an opening, a valvemember seated below said diaphragms, said hopper having a feed dischargeopening below said diaphragms, said valve member normally closing saiddischarge opening, a slot in said valve member for each compartment, andmeans for actuating said valve member.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a feedhopper having a plurality of compartments, a diaphragm in the bottom ofeach compartment, said diaphragm being troughed and extending downwardlyand outwardly, each diaphragm having an opening, a valve member seatedbelow said diaphragms, said hopper having a feed discharge opening belowsaid diaphragms, said valve member normally closing said dischargeopening, a slot in said valve member for each compartment, and means foractuating said valve member.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper having a dischargeopening, partition members within said hopper for dividing the same intocompartments, feed controlling diaphragms at the bottoms of saidcompartments, an oscillating valve member controlling said dischargeopening, and an inverted seat for said valve member secured upon saidpartition members.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper having a feeddischarge opening, a slotted substantially spherically shaped valvemember controlling said discharge opening, and a tempter device hungupon and supported by said valve member, whereby said valve member maybeoscillated in any direction and a slot brought into communication withsaid discharge opening.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper having a feeddischarge opening, a slotted substantially spherically shaped valvemember controlling said discharge opening, a tempter device hung uponand supported by said valve member, whereby said valve member may beoscillated in any direction and a slot brought into communication withsaid discharge opening, and a feed deflector swinging with said valvemember.

14. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper having a feeddischarge opening, a slotted substantially spherically shaped valvemember controlling said discharge opening, a tempter device hung uponand supported by said valve member, whereby said valve member may beoscillated in any direction and a slot brought into communication withsaid discharge opening, and a feed controlling diaphragm in said hopperabove said valve member.

15. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper having a feeddischarge opening, a slotted substantially spherically shaped valvemember controlling said discharge opening, a tempter device hung uponand supported by said valve member, whereby said valve member may beoscillated in any direction and a slot brought into communication withsaid discharge opening, and a troughed feedcontrolling diaphragm in saidhopper above said valve member.

16. In apparatus of the character described, a hopper having a feeddischarge opening, a slotted substantially spherically shaped valvemember controlling'said discharge opening, a tempter device hung uponand supported by said valve member, whereby said valve member may beoscillated in fixed my signature in the presence of the two anydirection and a slot brought into comsubscribing Witnesses.

munication With said discharge 0 enin and an inclined troughed feedconti olling dia- THOMAS PLATT' phragm in said hopper above said valveWitnesses:

member. ANNA E. STEINBOOK, In testimony whereof I have hereunto af-ELEANOR T. MGCALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G.

